To be more specific: Life in a dictatorship | Time for politics
Teaching materials and a lesson plan for this episode, ready for immediate classroom use, are available here: https://www.blz.bayern.de/immer-mehr-...
According to the "Democracy Index" published by the British magazine "The Economist," Germany belongs to the highest category of so-called "fully-fledged democracies" and ranks 15th internationally. Norway, New Zealand, and Finland occupy the top spots. Afghanistan is ranked last, at 167th place. The People's Republic of China (148th) and Iran (154th) also occupy the bottom spots. This episode focuses on these two countries, which are classified as dictatorships. The aim of the episode is to identify characteristics of dictatorships that are common to most non-democratic states.
Iranian activist Nuschin Rawanmehr explains the extent to which daily life in the Islamic Republic of Iran is shaped by regime repression. These profound repressions are already clearly visible in the compulsory wearing of Islamic clothing, which for women in particular means the mandatory wearing of a headscarf. The regime also places great emphasis on the segregation of the sexes in places like schools and public transportation. The rights to freedom of expression and a free press are severely suppressed in Iran. In addition to the prohibition of alcohol, homosexuality, dancing, and singing for women, Sharia law—Islamic law derived from the Quran—means that people in Iran face harsh punishments for violating these rules. For example, between January 1 and June 30, 2022, 251 people were executed in Iran (according to official figures).
Although elections officially take place in Iran, the Islamic Republic is a theocracy in which the state religion dictates the laws and politics. The Supreme Leader and Head of State, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (as of September 2022), is the most powerful man in the country, upon whom all political decisions depend.
[Production of this episode had already been completed by the time of the renewed protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Further information and links can be found in the teaching materials.]
Following the discussion, presenter Joanna speaks with journalist Katharin Tai. She has lived in China and researches Chinese internet policy and politics in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Although China may appear at first glance to be a modern and progressive country, many facts point to its being a dictatorship. China is a one-party state with no truly free elections and no alternative to the Chinese Communist Party. The administration, police, and judiciary are controlled by the party. The opposition is suppressed, persecuted, and faces imprisonment. Any form of protest is crushed. Freedom of the press and expression is severely restricted in China, and the country's Muslim minority – the Uyghurs – are reportedly being forced to renounce their religion and traditions in re-education camps.
00:00 – Intro
00:46 – Interview on the theocracy in Iran
04:36 – Difference between democracy and dictatorship
05:20 – Interview on the dictatorship in China
08:03 – Life in a dictatorship
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Author: Markus Hensel
Camera: Jakob Lauber, Markus Hensel
Editing: Benedikt Schreiber
Production: BLZ
ganzkonkret is a format of the Bavarian State Center for Political Education:
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